Le Mans officially promoted to Ligue 1, Bastia relegated to Ligue 3
The LFP Disciplinary Committee officially confirmed Le Mans’ 2-0 victory over Bastia this Wednesday evening, securing their promotion to Ligue 1. Following stadium incidents, the Corsican club, now relegated to Ligue 3, also received a sanction of two immediate closed-door matches and one suspended.
During its session this Wednesday evening, the Ligue de football professionnel (LFP) Disciplinary Committee upheld Le Mans’ 2-0 triumph over Bastia, a result initially achieved on the pitch last Saturday during the 34th round of Ligue 2. The match was halted with mere seconds remaining when referee Ruddy Buquet directed players to the changing rooms for their safety, amidst a barrage of smoke bombs and firecrackers launched from the stands.
Despite the interruption, the league’s disciplinary body, following a swift review, predictably ratified the scoreline. This decision propels Le Mans into Ligue 1 and sends Bastia down to Ligue 3, the professional division set to replace the National league next season.
Bastia avoids point deduction
The Corsican outfit also faces a penalty of two home matches played behind closed doors at the Stade Armand-Cesari, with an additional match suspended. Crucially, the club managed to evade a point deduction for the upcoming season, a threat that loomed large. Bastia had been under a suspended sentence due to prior disturbances less than six months ago. On December 5th, the Bastia-Red Star fixture was permanently abandoned just before the hour mark after a smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch from the Bastia supporters’ kop.
That projectile had struck a Red Star player, Bradley Danger. Consequently, the Corsican club forfeited that match (which stood at 0-0 at the time of interruption) and also received a suspended point deduction.
This suspended sentence, however, was not activated. Sébastien Deneux, president of the LFP Disciplinary Committee, clarified, «Generally, a point is deducted when a match participant is injured. That was not the case during the Bastia-Le Mans encounter. Therefore, in our judgment, there was no basis to revoke that suspended sentence.»
